New York criminal charge
Bribing a witness in New York
Bribing a witness is a Class D Felony under New York criminal law, defined by N.Y. Penal Law § 215.00. As a Class D Felony, it is punishable within the statutory sentencing range New York sets for that offense class. New York classifies offenses as felonies (classes A-I and A-II through E), misdemeanors (classes A and B, plus unclassified), violations, and traffic infractions — and a violation or traffic infraction is not a crime (N.Y. Penal Law § 10.00(6); N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law § 155). Felony sentences divide into indeterminate and determinate schemes depending on the offense (N.Y. Penal Law §§ 70.00, 70.02).
Defined by N.Y. Penal Law § 215.00.
What is the penalty for bribing a witness in New York?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 7 years (authorized maximum for the class; non-violent felonies take an indeterminate term (minimum 1 year to one-third of the maximum, PEN 70.00(3)(b)) or an alternative definite sentence of 1 year or less (PEN 70.00(4)); violent felony offenses enumerated in PEN 70.02 take a determinate term of 2–7 years plus post-release supervision (PEN 70.45); predicate-felon ranges differ (PEN 70.06)) | discretionary | N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (or up to double the defendant's gain from the crime (PEN 80.00(1)); does not apply to corporations (PEN 80.00(4), 80.10)) | discretionary | N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00 |
Applies to current.
Common questions about bribing a witness in New York
What class of felony is bribing a witness in New York?
What are the penalties for bribing a witness in New York?
As a Class D Felony, bribing a witness carries up to 7 years (the maximum authorized for the class) of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000 (the maximum authorized for the class) under N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00 (current).
Which New York statute covers bribing a witness?
Bribing a witness is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 215.00 (Bribing a witness).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.